Dublin long street
Ireland

High School Abroad in Ireland

Tentative Dates

-

39 weeks

Priority Deadline

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Tentative Dates

-

19 weeks

Priority Deadline

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Tentative Dates

-

12 weeks

Priority Deadline

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Tentative Dates

-

19 weeks

Costs

$21,750

Priority Deadline

The application deadline has passed.

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Tentative Dates

-

12 weeks

Costs

$17,250

Priority Deadline

The application deadline has passed.

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Tentative Dates

-

41 weeks

Costs

$29,500

Priority Deadline

The application deadline has passed.

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Tentative Dates

-

24 weeks

Priority Deadline

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Tentative Dates

-

17 weeks

Priority Deadline

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Tentative Dates

-

26 weeks

Costs

$21,750

Priority Deadline

The application deadline has passed.

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Tentative Dates

-

18 weeks

Costs

$17,250

Priority Deadline

The application deadline has passed.

Enroll Now

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Program Overview

Live with an Irish family, study at a local school, and revel in a unique cultural wonderland.

Get ready for an authentic Irish educational experience, complete with a traditional school uniform. At a local high school (single gender or coed), you’ll study alongside Irish peers and choose from a wide variety of courses, all taught in English. Get placed in your own level, or request to attend 10th grade, the traditional "transition year" in Ireland and a unique hands-on learning experience where cultural and enrichment activities take a central role: learn how to ride a horse or balance a budget, get intro courses on new and different topics such as business or entrepreneurship...etc.

At your homestay, live like a local! Most of our placements are within 90 minutes of Dublin airport in suburban or rural areas, giving you easy access to the outdoors, and providing you with amazing insights into the authentic Irish lifestyle. If you're set on spending your semester in Dublin, it is possible but may require an additional fee.

What will you do on weekends? Catch the latest movie on a rainy day in Dublin. Surf at Lahinch Beach, a rugged beach near the Cliffs of Moher. Visit the Ring of Kerry, a peninsula in southern Ireland. These are just a few of the activities students do with their host families, CIEE friends, and other international students.

The Take-Aways

Independence & Resilience

Come home better prepared to make transitions, take control of new situations, and appreciate challenging experiences for what they are: opportunities to learn and grow.

College Readiness

Studying abroad gives you the kinds of life skills that can’t be learned in a classroom — and shows college admissions reps that you’re already one step ahead in terms of initiative, maturity, and independence.

Global Citizenship

After immersing yourself in unfamiliar practices and customs, you’ll become better equipped to interact with people from other cultures — in school, on the job, or in your personal life.

93%

said their experience made them more aware of global issues.

79%

said their experience with CIEE helped shape their college applications.

96%

said they regularly use the knowledge and skills they acquired while abroad with CIEE.

The Destination
  • dublin canal sunset
  • dublin-trinity-library
  • dublin-mountain-path

The Destination

Rolling hills, bustling cities, and historic sites make the Emerald Isle an unforgettable learning environment.

Discover the majesty and rich culture of the Emerald Isle.

With CIEE, you’ll have the unique opportunity to experience Ireland as its own people do. Give Gaelic football a try with your classmates after school, or meet up with friends at the local pub on a Saturday afternoon for traditional Irish stew and soda bread. Join your homestay for a scenic drive, or hike through the countryside on a crisp fall afternoon.

Through classes at a local high school, extracurricular activities, and living with a homestay, you’ll immerse yourself completely in Irish culture and discover what it’s like to step outside of your comfort zone and make the world your classroom.

CIEE wants all our students to feel welcomed, supported, and empowered to succeed while studying abroad. Local CIEE staff have provided details about conditions and cultural attitudes that students with specific identities might encounter in Ireland.

Orientation

Upon arrival in Ireland, you’ll be picked up at the airport by CIEE staff and begin your two-day orientation in Dublin. During orientation, you will participate in different workshops focusing on a variety of themes—culture, language, academics, social norms, current events—all designed to prepare you for your experience in Ireland. Additionally, you’ll see some of the best that Dublin has to offer!

After orientation, you will depart for your host community and spend a couple of days with your homestay before starting school.

Daily Life

Daily Life

"After dinner we always sit around, have tea and toast, and talk together about the day...The days fly by here!"

Read our blogs to learn more about daily life while attending a high school abroad.

Explore Program Blogs

Housing

Carefully screened homestay in Ireland

Local Support

Local Coordinator in country and CIEE support staff available 24/7

Program Blogs

From CIEE

Life in England as an American Student

By High School Semester Abroad at CIEE

Hi, my name is Alyse Takken and I am a seventeen-year-old American studying in England. When I moved to England there were many things I did expect, like great architecture... keep reading

From CIEE

My Journey to Ireland - A Blog Takeover by Simone!

By High School Semester Abroad at CIEE

The idea of Studying abroad has always been a plan in my life. My older sister studied abroad as a high school student and spent a lot of time studying... keep reading

An Irish St. Patrick's Day

By Annie J.

I've always wondered what St. Patrick's Day is like in Ireland. It's the one holiday that makes everyone think of Ireland, rainbows, and leprechauns. First of all, it's not as... keep reading

Activities

Sample Activities

The land of Shaw, Swift, Joyce, Lewis, and Yeats beckons. Ireland’s rolling green hills are dotted with cozy tearooms and medieval castles. Yet cities are equally known for their tech and pop music scenes. Irish history comes alive during excursions to museums, cathedrals, galleries, and historic sites in and around Dublin. Farther afield, you might travel to Achill Island, Connemara, and Galway in the West of Ireland, or journey to Northern Ireland to tour Belfast. You’ll have plenty of time to discover the country—on your own, with new CIEE friends, or maybe even your homestay!

Tuition for this program includes the cost of one day trip and one overnight trip per semester. Trips will take place earlier in the semester to allow trimester students the opportunity to participate. These trips vary every semester, but some examples of past excursions include:

Kilkenny Castle in Ireland

3 Day Overnight Trip Examples

Carlingford Overnight Trip
Journey to the enchanting town of Carlingford, located on the edge of in County Louth and at the base of the iconic Cooley Mountains. The medieval charm of this town is apparent in its historic Carlingford Castle. Create lasting memories with your peers while exploring cobbled streets as well as the beauty of rugged landscapes. Delve into the heart of Irish cooking and try your hand at preparing traditional meals on a local farm.

Kilkenny Historical Visit
Have fun strengthening bonds with your program peers while taking in the many exciting sites in the medieval city of Kilkenny. Work together to follow the Nore Valley Treasure Trail, explore the famous castle and surrounding park, and sample modern Irish cuisine where you’ll surely be surprised with the range of food options available. You’ll also take a hike above the 5th century monastery of Glendalough which is situated in a glacial valley consisting of two lakes.

Boyne Valley, Ireland

1 Day Trip Examples

Lough Erne
Take part in archery, ziplining, and more at this scenic lake in County Fermanagh in Northern Ireland.

Boyne Valley
Explore Ireland’s 5,000-year-old past and modern mysticism in the Boyne Valley.

What People Are Saying

  • "Being in Ireland made me appreciate home, and being back home has made me appreciate my time abroad even more. When I think back on my time abroad, every image in my mind is as clear as if I were still there. I brought a bit of Ireland back with me. My school jumper is hanging up in my closet (and I can’t wait for winter to come, so I can wear it again!), cards and little notes from my friends are scattered around my room, and pictures hang everywhere, always making my day a bit brighter."

    Lauren B., CIEE High School Abroad Alumna

  • "Ireland is my home now — will always be. When you leave, a part of you gets left behind, like a remembrance. I love Ireland, I love the people, I love the culture, and I love who I have become because of my experience. I have met so many life-changing people who will never leave my memory. This journey was about finding who you are and what kind of person you are."

    Catherine S., CIEE High School Abroad Alumna

  • "My entire definition of ‘home’ had changed. ‘Home is where the heart is’— and at that time, my heart was in Ireland."

    Lauren B., CIEE High School Abroad Alumna

  • "I learned things that aren’t taught in schools: what is really important to me, what I want out of life, and how to be more open-minded and confident."

    Sophie R., CIEE High School Abroad Alumna

  • "Everyone is shocked to hear that I studied abroad when I was 15 years old. I’m shocked myself — yet, quite frankly, I’m shocked that it isn’t more common to study abroad in high school. CIEE gave me an opportunity that most people have never heard of. The program transformed me into the person I am today, with impeccable people skills and the ability to adapt to any environment. I owe a huge thanks to the CIEE program. I am proud to be a CIEE alumnus!"

    Alex A., CIEE High School Abroad Alumnus

Eligibility

Eligibility

  • Be between the ages of 15 and 17 when the program starts and cannot turn 18 while on program.
  • Be in the 9th, 10th, 11th, or 12th year of schooling.
  • Have a minimum GPA of 2.5.
  • Demonstrate, through the application process, their flexibility, maturity, adaptability, and readiness to face the challenges of living in a new culture.

High school abroad participants are NOT authorized to volunteer, take jobs, or seek employment during their stay.

For more information, refer to the detailed Program Essential Eligibility Criteria.

Dates & Fees

Dates & Fees

Application Fee

$50

Priority deadline discount: Apply to a fall semester or academic year by February 15 and get a $400 discount. Apply to a spring semester by July 15 and get a $400 discount. Discounts are deducted from final balance.

Additional information about insurance can be found on the FAQ page.

Program

Application Due

Start Date

End Date

Costs

Program Academic Year 2025 39 weeks Start Date * End Date *
Program Spring 2026 19 weeks Start Date * End Date *
Program Spring Trimester 2026 12 weeks Start Date * End Date *
Program Spring 2025 19 weeks Application Due Deadline Passed Start Date End Date Costs $21,750
Program Spring Trimester 2025 12 weeks Application Due Deadline Passed Start Date End Date Costs $17,250
Program Academic Year 2024 41 weeks Application Due Deadline Passed Start Date End Date Costs $29,500
Program Fall 2025 24 weeks Start Date * End Date *
Program Fall Trimester 2025 17 weeks Start Date * End Date *
Program Fall 2024 26 weeks Application Due Deadline Passed Start Date End Date Costs $21,750
Program Fall Trimester 2024 18 weeks Application Due Deadline Passed Start Date End Date Costs $17,250

*Dates for this program are provided as tentative dates. Please consult with your study abroad advisor to confirm dates before purchasing your flights.

Our Staff

Our Staff

Enda O’Connell

Center Director

Enda is responsible for overall management of CIEE Dublin. He holds a bachelor’s degree in Primary Education Teaching from Dublin City University and the equivalent of a Master’s degree in...

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